In this Challenge, we focus on an old school VFR cross country flight using visual navigation, complex airspace, and lots of traffic. Pilots are encouraged to request Flight Following for the full terminal area experience.

Hello,I have a question about this sentence from the linked event briefing:

Quote

Pilots may be told to remain clear of the Boston Class B airspace and are not guaranteed to receive a clearance through the Norwood or Hanscom Class D airspace. This means that aircraft may have to alter their route to avoid the airspace or descend early to avoid it.

I have done a number of PRP flights from BVARTCC, and I'm confused about the clearance situation -- in PRP VFR#4, I learned that ATC clearance is not required for C and D airspace, only "contact" with them. Is it true then from the event briefing that you could be "denied clearance" through Norwood/Hanscom class D?

Hello,I have a question about this sentence from the linked event briefing:

Quote

Pilots may be told to remain clear of the Boston Class B airspace and are not guaranteed to receive a clearance through the Norwood or Hanscom Class D airspace. This means that aircraft may have to alter their route to avoid the airspace or descend early to avoid it.

I have done a number of PRP flights from BVARTCC, and I'm confused about the clearance situation -- in PRP VFR#4, I learned that ATC clearance is not required for C and D airspace, only "contact" with them. Is it true then from the event briefing that you could be "denied clearance" through Norwood/Hanscom class D?

Technically, you need two way radio communications for a C and D. So the way an ATC will "deny" you service is by simply replying "Stand By". Unless they state their callsign and your callsign, two way radio communications have not been established. An example of 2 way radio comms would be if you called up and got this response: "N12345, Providence Approach, roger". However if ATC simply says "Last aircraft calling, standby" means that you cannot enter the class C or D airspace.

So the way an ATC will "deny" you service is by simply replying "Stand By".

Or, of course, you could be specifically told, "[Callsign], remain clear of the Class [C/D] airspace."

To answer your other question, yes, from the event briefing, you could be told to remain clear of airspace. Generally, transitions through an airspace are done workload permitting. Although I wouldn't expect you to be told to remain clear, it is certainly possible.

So the way an ATC will "deny" you service is by simply replying "Stand By".

Or, of course, you could be specifically told, "[Callsign], remain clear of the Class [C/D] airspace."

Logically speaking, if I need to intentionally deny access to airspace, I will make sure the instruction is clear, to avoid any confusion whatsoever. While the rules are clear, it's simply easier to deny, rather than to deny by omission.